High-tension circuit-breaker.



5N0. 818,290. PATENTBD APR. 17, 1906. v

R. H. READ. HIGH TENSION CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1903. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 /V/Zfissesr K 7771/ /75? fio/perf 1 Head g I ,UNITED srnrns earner enrich..-

tomes. READ, or SOHENEGTADY, NEW roan, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL [To all whom it may concern:

ELECTRIG-GOMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HiGH-=TENSBON ClRGUlT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 1'7, 19cc.

Application filed June 25,1903- Serial No. 163,091.

REA a Be it known that' I, ROBERT citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hi h-TensionvGircuit-Breakers, of which the f0 lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to switches, and especially to circuit-breakers for handling hightension alternatin electric currents; and its I 3 is a perspective view of a ruse.

f r be more clearly understood a side elevation of an breaker embodying m 'object is to provi e. a substitute for the oilswitches commonly used for that purpose. To, that end I combine with a switch or circuit-breaker of an customary or desired construction" a plura ity of fuses, one is in shunt relation to the switch-terminals. When the switch is opened, there is no spar at the terminals, andthe fuse then blows harmlessly. Means are provided for feeding a new fuse into circuit across the terminals after the switch has been closed. This is preferably accomplished automatically, and a step may be thrown i to action after the last fuse has blown, so. that the switch cannot be closed until a new supply of fuses has been rovided. V

The fuses are preferably carried in a rotating magazine, which is actuated step by step by a ratchetheel and'pawl simultaneously with the closing of theswitch. Suitable pro,- vision is made to insure the closing of the switch before'the fuse is onnected across the terminals.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 7 is automatic circufinvention. Fig. 2 is ma amine-fuse. Fig. Fig. 4 is a perspective view-of a clip. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 6 an end view, of a modifia perspective view of t cation. Fig.- 7 is a section on the line 7 7,

T have shown my invention applied to an automatic circuit-breaker,.suchas is patented-toEM. Hewlett, September 9, 1902, No. 7 08,710, and in order that In invention may will briefly deserib6 M Hewletts apparatus. Mounted onaninsulating-base lare two stationary irenittermin ls. 21M 11 Wh h ab el of which c'ontact 3, of copper laminae, cooperates. The

bridge is carried by an elbow lever h fulcrumed on a bracket 5 and actuated by a toggle comprising a link 6 and a handle 7 hinged on a bracket 8. When the handle is pushed in to "straighten the toggle and close the switch, it is locked by an auxiliary tog le consisting of a link 9, pivoted to the hand e, and a sectonplate l0, pivoted to a stationary support and urged upward by a spring 11, so that the locking-toggle operates automatically, and 'asits center pivot passes the strai ht line it looks itself. The overload-coil 12 has a hinged armature 13 maintained normally against a stop 14 by a spring 15. pivoted to the armature and carries an arm 17, standing above a lug 18 on the link 9.

When the coil attracts the armature, the arm knocks down the locking-toggle and permits the spring 19 to collapse themain toggle and open the switch. The same operation may be performed by hand at any time by means of the tripping-handle 20, attached to the armature.

is merelyillustrative, since my invention is capable of application to many kinds of switches.

At some point adjacent to theterminals 2,

I provide a magazine of fuses, one of which will be connected across said terminals where m er the switch is in a closed position. There are many ways in which this magazine can be constructed and arran ed; but I prefer the one shown, where the fuses are carried on a drum 21, journalcd in frames 22 projecting from the panel 1. On the drum are severe pairs of clips 23, made of spring metal and receiving the ends of the fuses. I prefer to use what are known as cartridge-fuses, which have a cylindrical body 24, of fiber, containin quantity re ractory material, in which the fuse proper is embedded. The body has metallic caps 25, to which the allyconnected. Each cap has a laterallyprojecting flange 26, adapted to enter the jaws of two clips 27, arranged in the planes of revolution of the flanges [and respectively electrically connected with the terminals 2,

Abar 16 is .d

It will be understood that the switchlshown preferably on the back ofthe base-or panel 1,,

of sand or other finely-divided ends of the fuse are electric- Q e1e,2eo

as by strips of metal 28. The clips 33 JfQf8I understood that the apparatus shown is only ablycnga go with notches in the caps 25 to prevent the fuses from twisting when being forced into the clips 27. d

The drum arranged to be mitomatically rotated through given angle every time the switch is closed. This is preferably accompl'shed by a ratchetuvhecl 39 on the shaft of the drum and a pawlSG, pivoted to a lever 31 and pressed against the teeth of the ratchetwheel by a sprii A detent-pawl 32?. provents any backward mrnrement of the wheel. The lever is ret acted by a spring 34 and is pushed forward to turn the drum by means of a spring retracted plunger 35, which )asses through the panel 1 and is struck by a lug 36 on the. lever 4 when the switch is closed. T he parts are so )roportioncd that the bridge 3 will close before the flanges 26 enter the clips 27, the resilience of the bridge being suliicient to permit a further movement of the lug 36 and plunger 35 enough to complete the feeding of the fuse into the clips.

The operation is as follows: When the switch is opened, the shunt fuse prevents any arc at the terminals 2 but as the whole linecurrent then flows through the fuse it blows quickly and harmlessly and opens the circuit. Whenthc switch is closed again, a new fuse is brought into iiiperative position. After all the fuses in the magazine have been used the switch automatically locked to prevent it from being closed until a fresh supply of fuses is provided. This is preferably effected by a lever 37, arranged to be moved by a cam 38 on the drum when the last fuse is inserted. The lever has a springy portion 3E1, carrying a pin 40, which'the cain causes to bear against the sector-plate if), so that when the switch opened the pin will spring in over the locking-togglc and prevent it from pcrating when one tries to (lose the switch.

rluiothcru dc of insuring the closing of the switch before the fuse is inserted in the clips 27 is shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. l'lcre the ratchet-wheel 41 is loose on the drumshaft, but has a pin 42, to which is attached one end of a coiled spring l3, fastened to the shaft, l'l hcn the ralclwt-wheel is actuated, it stores energy in the spring, which operates to turn the shaft and the drum, the speed of rotation being regulated by an cscapemcnt, 0 :ch as the toothed wheel 44 and the anchor 4 L, damped by an oscillating spring balancedisk 46. The result is that the fuse is slowly l rougbt into position a minute or two after the switch has closer l.

In accordance with the patent statutes 1 l' avedcscribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with the ap iaratus which i now consider to represent the best cmlmdiincnt i hcrcof; but i desire to have il.

- illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with a switch, of a plurality f fuses, and means for automatically feeding them successively into shunt relation to said switch upon successive operations of the switch.

2. The combination with a switch, of a rotatable magazine-fuse in shunt thereto, and means for automatically rotating said magazine at each closure of the switch.

3. The combination with a switch, of a rotatable magazine fuse in shunt thereto, means for rotating said magazine at each closure of the switch, and means for preventing the closure of said switch after the last fuse has blown.

4. The combination with a switch, of a plurality of fuses, means for feeding them successively into shunt relation to said switch, and means for insuring the closure of the switch before the circuit through the fuse is closed.

The combination with a switch, of a clip in circuit w th each terminal thereof, a plurality of fuses each having a flange at each end, and means for automatically inserting said flanges into said clips.

6. The coml'iination with a switch, of a plurality of fuses each having a flange at each end, a rotatable drum carrying said fuses, clips in circuit with the terminals of the switch and lying in the planes of revolution of said flanges, and means for automatically rotating the drum at each closure of the switch.

7. The comlnnation with the switch, of a magazinc-fuse in shunt to the terminals there.- of, a locking-lcvcr for preventing the closure of said switch, and a cam on the magazine for actuating said levcrafter the last fuse has been used.

8. The combination with a switch, of a rotatable magazine-fuse in shunt to the terminals thereof, a ratchetand pawl feed for said magazine, a coiled spring connecting the ratchet and the magazine, and an escapement for regulating the rotativc effect of said spring.

i). breaker, a fuse automatically interposed in shunt to the main contacts after closure, and means for opening thc contacts whilc the fuse completes the shunt.

10. The combinationof aswitchorriircuitbreaker, a fusc-imtgazinc containing a plurality of cartrirlgc-fuscs, and means for automatically positioning a cartridge-fuse and subscrpicntly upon thc opening of the brcakcr breaking the circuit through said fuse.

H. The combination with a switch, of a The combination of a switch or circuit- @iqmlity of fuse, omens resfionsi've to' the inetieally feeding said fuses int o operative swl'boh-movemente forfeeding said fuses into posimon. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 0 emtxive position, and means for preventing hand thls 24zthdey oiigme, 1903.

t e actuating swish-movements after the BERT H. READ.

5 lest fuse has been used. 12. The combination with'e switch, of a Wit'nesses;

plumlity of fuses, and mechanical means con j BENJAMiN B. HULL,

HELEN ORFORD.

trolled by the switch-movements 01 auto- 

